Marking tag



G. vH. TAYLOR Nov. 17, 1936.

MARKING- TAG Filed Jan. 24, 1956 96 la. TLZ/ZOI' MLLW/ WW Patented Nov. 17, 1936 PATENT OFFICE MARKING TAG George H. Taylor, Norfolk, Va., assignor to Metallic Tag Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Virginia Application January 24, 1936, Serial No. 60,690

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in marking tags of the type shown in Letters Patent 1,174,299, granted to me under date of March '7, 1916.

An important object of the invention is to provide means which will prevent the removal of the tag, without detection, after being applied.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby a seal may be used in connection with the folded tag.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby portions of the folded tag, when subjected to suitable pressure, constitute a sealing element, thereby eliminating the necessity of employing a separate sealing element.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a marking tag embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same,

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the tag, showing the same applied to a flexible element, parts of the tag folded,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the folded tag, with one form of seal applied thereto,

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on line 55 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified form of marking tag having the parts of the seal formed integral therewith,

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on line 1--7 of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a plan view of the marking tag shown in Figure 1, with a further modified form of seal applied thereto,

Figure 9 is a transverse section taken on line 99 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a plan view of the form of marking tag shown in Figure 1, with a difierent type of seal applied thereto,

Figure 11 is a transverse section taken on line l|--|l of Figure 10,

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the marking tag, folded once, and

Figure 13 is an end elevation of the tag, showing it folded twice.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown preferred embodiments of my invention, attention being called first to Figures 1 to 11, inclusive, the numeral [5 designates the body portion of the tag, as a whole, preferably formed of sheet metal which is suitably stifi, but bendable, and relatively non-resilient. Satisfactory results are obtained by forming the body portion of copper, iron, tin or the like. The body portion is provided at points preferably equi-distantly spaced from its opposite ends, with L-shaped' slots or recesses l6, including transverse portions ll, passed through the longitudinal edges of the body portion l5, and longitudinal portions l8, in communication with the transverse portions l1. These L-shaped slots or recesses produce a narrow wrapping portion I9, adapted to be bent or folded along lines 20 and 2|. At one end, the body portion I5 has a locking lip 22, adapted to be folded over the adjacent ends of the body portion I5, when the body portion is folded about the flexible element. The body portion is provided with any suitable indicating or identifying character, shown for the purpose of illustration in the form of a number 23. The marking tag thus described is common to all modifications of the invention and is identical with the marking tag shown in my Patent 1,174,- 299, except that the suspension opening [9, shown in the patent, is omitted.

The form of marking tags shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are identical. Each of these marking tags is provided with openings 24, arranged near and spaced from the ends thereof, and these openings are adapted to substantially register when the marking tag is bent or folded upon the narrow wrapping portion IS. The openings 24 register when the tag is folded upon the narrow wrapping portion I9, thus providing oppositely arranged side portions. As more clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, the opening 24 to the left, has its center substantially equi-distantly spaced between the outer longitudinal edge of the side portion and the folding line 2|. The side portions have the openings 24 arranged to register when such side portions are in the substantially flat folded position. The registering openings 24 are spaced substantial distances from the opposite longitudinal edges of the folded side portions and these registering openings serve to weaken the folded side portions so that said folded side portions may again be folded upon themselves along a line I20; passing through said registering openings. The purpose of so folding the side portions is to produce a rounded edge upon the outer portion of the tag, thereby preventing injury, due to the switching movement of the tail of an animal or the like.

The marking tag is shown folded once in Figure 12, and a second time on line 12a, Figure 13.

When used in this manner, the sealing elements are ordinarily omitted, although the sealing elements having the flexible cords may be employed.

The use of each marking tag shown in Figures 1 to 11, inclusive, is identical with the use of the marking tag shown in my Patent 1,174,299, except for the employment of the seal. In the use of the tag. shown in Figures 1 toll, inclusive, the body portion I is preferably first bent upon the line 2| until the wrapping portion I9 is at a right angle to one end portion of the body portion I5,.

as clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of Patent 1,174,299. The flexible element, such as .a lock of horses hair, or any other flexible element, is

then wrapped about the narrow wrapping portion I 9 in close proximity to the tongues I8, and the body portion I 5 and then bent upon the wrapping portion l9, in a reverse direction, upon lines 20 and 2|, until the parts assume the position shown in Figure 3. Portions of the flexible ele-' ment are now clamped within the slot portions I8. The locking tongue is now folded over the companion end of the body portion l5 and the folded tag is retained in the closed position and the tag cannot be moved longitudinally of the flexible element to be removed therefrom, without being opened.

It has been found that the tag shown in. my Patent 1,174,299 has been fraudulently removed after being applied to a flexible element, such as a lock of hair of a horse, and again applied to a lock of hair of another horse, thus enabling the substitution of one horse for another, after the inspection of the first horse. The improvement presented in the present application involves the use of the seal which will prevent the removal of the folded marking tag without detection, after being applied to the flexible element. In Figures 4 and 5, the marking tag is the marking tag shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the openings 24 of the folded marking tag are in registration, and are adapted to receive a rivet-seal, having a head 25 and a shank 26 passed through the openings 24, and the free end of the shank is spread, producing a companion head 21, by the application of pressure, applied by the use of any suitable tool. The rivet-seal may be provided on its opposed heads 25 and 2'! with any suitable designations, which may be produced by the pressure action of the tool. The rivet-seal is formed of some soft metal, like lead. It is thus seen that the marking tag cannot be opened and removed from the flexible element without the destruction of the rivet-seal, in whole or part, and the detection of the removal of the marking tag.

In Figures 8 and 9, the identical marking tag is used. The seal'embodies a flexible strap 28,

adapted to be folded upon itself so that it is U- shaped, and arms 29 are arranged upon opposite sides of the folded marking tag. These arms carry eyelets 30 and 3|, which are adapted to telescope, the eyelet 30 normally extending through openings 24 and into the companion eyelet 3l. By the use of a suitable punch, these eyeletsv are forced together and laterally. spread, so that they have a wedging interlocking engagement, and cannot be separated without detection. In Figures and 11 the same marking tag is used and a flexible element or wire 32 is passed through the openings 24 and a sealing element 33, of lead or the like, is clamped upon the flexible element 32 so that the sealing element 33 cannot be removed from the flexible element 32 without detection.

In Figures 6 and 7, the marking tag is identical with the marking tag shown in Figures 1 and 2, except that the plain openings 24 are omitted and tubular eyelets 34 and 35 are substituted therefor. These tubular eyelet-s are formed integral with the body portion l5. These tubular eyelets face in the same direction when the body portion I5 is folded to the. closed position and one tubular eyelet is adapted to pass within the other tubular eyelet, these tubular eyelets being originally cylindrical. Pressure is applied to the telescoping tubular eyelets by a suitable punch where'-' by they are spread laterally and have an interlocking wedging engagement and cannotbe separated without detection.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and describedare to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various'changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A marking tag comprising side portions and an intermediate reduced wrapping portion upon which the hair of an animals tail or the like is wrapped, said tag having means for holding en-' gagement with the wrapped hair when the tag is folded upon the wrapping portion, said side portions having openings arranged to register when the side portions are in the substantially flat folded position, said registering openings being spaced substantial distances from the opposite longitudinal edges of the folded side portions, said registering openings serving to weaken the folded side portions so that said folded side portions may again be folded upon themselves along lines passing through said registering openings.

GEORGE H. TAYLOR. 

